The San Francisco Opera Guild recently hosted the opening night of the Opera’s 92nd Season with the theme of “Passione,” co-chaired by Teresa Medearis and Cynthia Schreuder, with honorary chairs Cynthia Fry Gunn and Dede Wilsey, with Opera Guild president Karen Kubin.
“Cynthia and I drew inspiration from Norma to select our Opera Ball theme, Passione,” says Teresa Medearis. It was with that theme in mind that J. Riccardo Benavides of Ideas created a Roman fantasia in City Hall for gala guests to enjoy, with Roman legionnaires and golden lions with wings.
Pictured: Opera Ball, 1938 and 1941
This is the 75th year that the Guild has hosted the Opera Ball, and its members have done a fantastic job at keeping the tradition alive, while creating an evening that’s always interesting and new!
Of course, fashion reflects the mood of the times, and this year, the looks worn at the Ball showed the fabulous diversity of expression available to everyone, from the pristine elegance of Vanesa Getty in a long black Dolce & Gabbana gown, the jungle chic Tom Ford piece worn by Joy Bianchi, the beautifully crafted haute couture of Christine Suppes’ Rodarte, to the colorful exuberance of Sonya Molodetskaya in playful Vasily Vein. Here are some of the night’s most marvelous looks.
Black Tie Sophistication
Glimmers of Gold, Silver, and Bronze
Striking in Black and White